<p>After reading these details as you’ve described the situation… I’m going to hazard an experienced guess and say that about 85% of this problem is in your head. I’m not criticizing you here, not in the slightest. What I’m saying is that most of us tend to assume the worst in people’s reactions to us, especially in conflict situations. Your teacher may have had some valid concerns to share with you back then or may have wished you’d handled things more creatively (allow the frosh in as an alternate, referee, trainee, observer?), but he also has other experiences with those parents and is smart enough to read between the lines if they’re being spiteful and ridiculous.</p>
<p>Now, being “liked by everyone” is the coin of the realm for teens, but not much of a metric to their advisors. What results did your club gain during your tenure? Did you accomplish anything notable? What did you (personally) learn about leadership, and what did you pass on to the younger students in your club? If you think on questions like these, you’ll probably get a better understanding of how your teacher views the situation.</p>
<p>What I would suggest to you – and this will sound difficult to you, possibly even painful – is to meet this head-on at the source. Approach that teacher and ask to meet with him for some advice. When you meet with him, tell him you’ve been thinking about writing one of your college essays on that conflict in your club – perhaps on what it taught you about leadership, responsibility, making hard choices, popularity vs following the rules, and/or winning vs being inclusive (note: for best results, you should actually think about these things beforehand, and have some cogent things to say ;)). Then ask him what’s his perspective on the whole thing, how you might have handled it better, what he hopes you’ve learned from it. Then listen hard. Whether you agree with him or not, thank him for his feedback and think about it seriously – and if you do think it would be a good essay, ask if he’d be willing to look over a draft for you.</p>
<p>You might find (as I think you will) that this two-ton problem you’re carrying around is just a little blip in history to him. You might find that he thinks of it as a growth experience, the natural process of making mistakes and learning from them. Or you might find that he’s still pretty critical about the whole thing and thinks you had your priorities mixed up. Whatever he thinks of that past situation, you have an opportunity now to discuss it with grace and maturity – and possibly raise yourself a notch or two in his eyes.</p>
<p>Then who cares if the counselor asks that teacher for some background? What will she hear? “Well, that dashboard goofed big-time with the math club a couple of years ago, but boyoboy, you wouldn’t believe the great conversation we just had – that kid has really grown up in the past few years!” 
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